Chinese projects firing up Namibia's logistics hub ambition

Chinese participation

Feng Yuanfei, general manager of CHEC Namibia branch, said undertaking such a large-scale infrastructure project in Namibia is not easy, as the country maintains high standards on work safety and environmental protection.

The company is now keeping a 24-hour monitor on the harbor's water quality and working with a research institute to minimize the project's impact on nearby dolphins, Feng told Xinhua.

Despite the many challenges, a number of Chinese companies like CHEC have managed to gain a foothold in Namibia's infrastructural sector, which Feng attributes to Chinese firms' speed and technical prowess that are winning global recognition.

In the road sector, which transports some 95 percent of Namibia's goods and services, there is also active participation of Chinese companies, said Conrad M. Lutombi, CEO of Namibia's Roads Authority.

Among the major players is China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO), which upgraded the Okamatapati-Grootfontein Road that opened last month.

Sun Yanlei, managing director of CHICO Namibia branch, said the company has completed seven infrastructure projects since entering Namibia in 2007, employing 600-800 locals at its peak, compared with a maximum of 60 Chinese employees.

"Localization of our employees not only complies with the Namibia's employment policy, but also raises our efficiency, as importing labors from China is getting more and more expensive," he said.

Lutombi also recognized the Chinese firms' efforts in skill transfer and job creation. "We have had a number of people who have become contractors because of the skill transfer from the Chinese contractors. And that process will continue," said Lutombi.

The prospects now seem brighter for the Chinese investment in Namibia, after the two countries established "comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation" in March. Namibian President Hage Geingob has also expressed interest in participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, a Chinese proposal to build trade and infrastructure network to link Asia with Europe and Africa.

During his Namibia visit last week, China's top legislator Li Zhanshu also called for the two countries to step up cooperation on infrastructure construction and industrial capacity, which he said will better benefit the people of the two countries.